The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-17
MARRIED IN HASTE.
A Girls Narrow Escape From Be-
ing Disinherited.

ing Disinherited.
The night before my wedding-day!
Was ever night so full of hours-were
ever hours SO full of dreary minutes,
that seemed to crawl after each other
through its dead, cold gloomp
Yet it was, by my own consent. to
be my wcdding-day tomorrow. had
said it; had not only said it, but had
said should never repent.
As the early dawn breaks through
the gloom of night I hear the old cock
in the farm-yard give dismal hoot,
preparatory to his first crow to the new
day.
And, utterly tired out, l drop asleep.
One two three four-five six
seven-eight beats of the tall old clock
OH the stairhead outside my door and
jump wildly to my feet.
.At nine clock, then," he had said.
! had only one hour-only one hour
to be Norah Glennic.
should be Norah Mapleson-a wife, a
true wife to true husband.
lrcarrange my dress with feverish
haste.
l only stop to drink cup of milk ere
] leave the house, only just in time to
catch the train as it passes our country
station.
am in time.
Once more my hands are clasped in
Yhis,
We say no word; only hurry through
the sleepy streets till we enter the dingy
office where, by some strange method,
we are made man and wife. ~All is n
dream to me.
! wonder vaguely where are my
bridesmaids, where are are my father
Z and motherP Bah! why of course they
are dead long, long ago. have only
my old uncle, and he is lying bedridden
at Norlington Farm.
How could he be here? The only
thing that seems real to me is the shin
ing ring on my finger.
look ut it in kind of fear as draw
my old kid glove over it before leaving
the house into which Norah Glcnnie
had gone a few minutes ago, and out
of which now a white, startled woman
was issuing Mapleson.
Don't be so distressed, my darling!
Don't look SO or can not bear it''
l draw a deep breath; stretch out
my hand little wildly, suppose, for
he takes it firmly in his and lays It on
his arm as he hurries me through the
streets back again in the direction OF
&he railway station.
Once more we are in the train.
"Mine-mine forever! do not fear
the future now!' is all my husband
says; but there is world of love in his
eyes.
Poor William! In a weeks time he
will be on the ocean and we will have
parted for many months-perhaps
years.
lie lets me rest quietly in his arms
during the very short journey back
again to Norlington. ! get out of the
train alone, rs he is going on some
business two stations further on; then
he will come back for tho rest Of the
week to the farm.
Before you go into his room, wife.
darling, you will take it offP"-nnd he
touches my finger. on which the bright
new wedding ring glitters.
II can notr' say. shuddering. ..It
is unlucky to remove wedding ring''
''But, my darling, his sharp eyes
wilr'-
srho tro;n croac On aud T ~, o1or
] SEQ his face look at me from the win.
dow, alarmed and anxious; but l nod
reassuringly and he smiles.
4 1t causes no remark that have been
"out so early this morning, for every.
thing lately is SO upset by reason of my
unc!e's illness and Williams near de-
parture.
Then, again, there is only old Betty
In the kitchen; and perhaps she scarcely
knows ! have been out; and II the
nurse who has been called in to attend
my uncle knows, she, doubtless, thinks
] have been into town on some house
hold crrand.
About my ring. ! must hide it; but
] can not take it of. hurry up into my
room. and hurriedly tuhh over the con.
tents of an old musty dressing-case
that had been my fathers. Where can
it bep That old garnet ring with the
queer under-grooye in itthat feel sure
will let this thin wedding ring slip into
1t and so keep my secret from pryine
eyes,
All! with hot, trembling fingers fine
It. 1t docs exactly as thought i
would do.
With that broad old ring always on,
neod fear no discovery. None but my
self would know that under 1t Ia.